Olympic boxer Nicola Adams comes out fighting for Pride as she recites Muhammad Ali poem ‘Modesty’
The Olympic champion and Strictly trailblazer recites a poem by her boxing hero for Speaking of Pride, empowered by Bentley.
Words: Brian Leonard
Taking pride in oneself is the theme of a special reading to mark Pride season by Olympic gold medallist Nicola Adams.
As part of Attitude’s Speaking of Pride series, empowered by Bentley, the boxer and Strictly star recites Ali’s poem ‘Modesty’, where he talks about only mentioning his greatness “ten times a day”.
Nicola says in regard to her choice of the poem: “He [Ali] has been my inspiration and hero since I was a kid. He was confident, he had charm, charisma inside and outside of the ring and really taught me to stand up for what I believe in.”
As part of Speaking of Pride, empowered by Bentley, £500 is being donated to a charity of Nicola’s choosing. She has chosen Fight For Peace, a charity that makes sure people from all walks of life have access to opportunities to grow and develop. It’s a charity that Nicola says is “close to my heart”.
“All the work they’ve done, and continue to do, in helping our next generation reach their full potential and promoting peace has left an invaluable impact,” she adds.
Also stepping into the back seat of a Bentley Flying Spur this year is Pretty Little Liars actor Julian Morris, who reads Carol Ann Duffy’s sensual queer poem ‘Warming Her Pearls’ and Firebird star Tom Prior who reads a passage from The Story of Roman; the book that his recent LGBTQ romantic drama is based on.
Author Jack Guinness delivers the forward from his acclaimed 2021 book The Queer Bible, while internet superstar Lewys Ball recites lyrics from Lil Nas X track ‘Sun Goes Down’, which deal with coming out.
Finally, star of The Chase Paul Sinha turns to the band that “soundtracked his life” – Pet Shop Boys – for his reading; a recital of their 1990 track ‘Being Boring’, which Sinha describes as a “life-affirming anthem to hedonism and the acute sense of loss people feel along the way”.
Speaking of Pride, empowered by Bentley is part of Attitude Pride at Home, which runs from 9-19 June on attitude.co.uk, youtube.com/attitudemag and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@attitudemag).
Attitude Pride at Home is to benefit the Attitude Magazine Foundation for LGBT causes.
To donate £3 please text ATHOME3 to 70480 or click here.